📍 La Mancha

La Mancha is a dry plain in the centre of Spain, in the region of Castilla-La Mancha, south of Madrid. According to Cervantes's novel, Don Quixote lived here, and windmills became a symbol of the land. The vineyards cover an enormous area and are counted among the largest wine territories in the world.

The climate is continental: summers hot and dry, winters cold, rain scarce, the altitude about 600 to 700 metres. Vines are often grown as low bushes without trellises, widely spaced, to cope better with drought.

The most widespread white grape is Airén, which gives simple light wines, part of which goes into brandy. Reds are made from Tempranillo (called Cencibel here), as well as Garnacha, Bobal and other grapes, including Moravia Agria and Moravia Dulce. Today many estates make modern reds aged in oak.

For comparison with its neighbours: inside La Mancha lies the separate appellation Valdepeñas, to the east Manchuela and Almansa, to the north Uclés and Madrid, and to the south Andalusia.